Pondering Preaching that Shares God's Heart

Preparing Christmas Sermons or Advent Reading?

I just realized that Advent is fast approaching and you may well be starting to think about Christmas preaching (or Advent reading with family). Can I make an overt promotion of Pleased to Dwell for this purpose?

1. As an Advent Read – With 24 short chapters, Pleased to Dwell, works really well as a pre-Christmas read for an individual or a family. Engaging and high energy, the sense of anticipation builds toward the Christmas narratives and their implications for us. I know some churches are using it as a church-wide pre-Christmas resource too.

2. For Advent Sermon Prep – There are at least four sermon series ideas developed in Pleased to Dwell. Obviously there are the two infancy narrative sections (Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2) developed in some detail, but still easily accessible. Then there is the Old Testament section, perhaps offering a series on the coming Prophet, Priest and King. The book also have a New Testament section with chapters some of the key epistle references to the coming of Christ (typically this would be for a preacher who feels the need for something other than infancy narratives and prophecies for a Christmas series!)